My sister Julie gave me my first guitar lesson in 1958. Before long I had learned enough to begin showing friends how to play. Almost seventy years later I am still doing that.
I had the advantage of learning in person from the old masters like John Hurt, Rev. Gary Davis, and Mance Lipscomb and new friends like Al Young, Steve Talbot, and others at the Ann Arbor Folklore Society. From them I learned to play in many styles including Delta Blues, finger picking, Ragged time and Folk. I started teaching classes to pass on this tradition. This book contains the material I use when I teach people to play “by ear”.
The book contains musical pieces organized in a sequence to add one ingredient at a time from a basic starting point. It contains 18 songs including lyrics, notation, guitar tablature and related information about other versions. Here are a few sample pages.
You can order the book for $30.00 by printing and sending this order form.
Many have learned this material over the years. Here are some comments from former students.
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Several years ago I was invited to participate in a Blues Guitar Class presented by Folk and Blues legend Marc Silber. Marc learned from some of the best of the American legends including Rev. Gary Davis, Mance Lipscomb, and Mississippi John Hurt.
The members of our class varied in skill from novice to skilled veterans. Marc had the unusual ability to bring skill and enjoyment to all these players.
Fortunately he has a new book which contains most of the Blues and Roots Music material and includes both European Notation and Guitar Tablature. That will help players at any level learn and improve.. His classes were unique because we could learn from Marc and each other. Using time-honored methods of oral (and aural) traditions and shared experience , aspiring Blues players now have a new road map from one of the best next generation’s greatest Blues player-teachers the country has ever produced.
Michael Scollard, Oakland, CA. September. 1, 2023
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“BOOGIE ON PEEPS”
I was a student of Marc’s for 9 1/2 years, first solo and then in his classes. My training with his guidance has produced exciting results. When playing in public I can even get the girls up and dancing to my two Boogies. “Lil Swamp Boogie” or the “Let’s Pretend Boogie”. I am so proud I can initiate dances a result of this time signature which is actually quite popular. Marc’s teaching works.
THIS IS THE BOTTOM LINE SO HAVE PATIENCE AND LEARN TO BOOGIE.
Beyond rhythmic precision and authentic portrayal of the Tradition, Marc also encouraged my own creativity making the music my own. This second feature is not emphasized by most teachers. (I’ve had many.)
Playing within a tradition competently while adding your own Gumbo zesty lyrics, and licks — this is Marc’s encouragement. Start with the Boogie and proceed to acquire other finger style masterpieces which you will enjoy for years. Listeners too!
YOU STRUCK GOLD DEAR BROTHER.
Don Villa, Berkeley, CA, July 5th, 2022
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